An eye-opening study on Jesus’ uncommon instruction for forgiveness found in the Lord’s Prayer
It’s a natural response to want to return evil for evil. But it’s a divine response to forgive those who injure us!
dinner and a sinner
Several years ago, while vacationing in Washington, DC, my family noticed a large crowd forming in front of a popular downtown theater. The word on the street was that Colin Powell, the United States Secretary of State at the time, was coming to the theater that evening to watch a play. We quickly learned that watching high-ranking public officials come and go was a favorite pastime of tourists.
Superman
By Naftaly C. Sitompul, 25, United States “This way, Dad! Turn this way now!” I called out to him as we danced in front of the television. He happily took my lead. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon. After some foot-thumping (and heart-pumping) moment, Dad dropped onto the couch and pant, “Ok, let’s take a [...]
Superman
By Naftaly C. Sitompul, 25, United States “This way, Dad! Turn this way now!” I called out to him as we danced in front of the television. He happily took my lead. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon. After some foot-thumping (and heart-pumping) moment, Dad dropped onto the couch and pant, “Ok, let’s take a [...]
Let’s discuss the one debt we can escape from right now
In this difficult economy, many people are struggling under the burden of debt. It’s uncomfortable knowing that we owe our creditors money every month. Jesus wipes away our spiritual debt! It’s a study of the phrase, “Forgive us our debts.”
Choose Your God
I recently saw a commercial for an online game based on Greek mythology. It spoke about armies, mythological gods, heroes, and quests. What got my attention was the description of how to get the game started. You go online to register, choose your god, then build your empire.
Wow! “Choose your god.” Those words, though presented casually in the ad, struck me as being characteristic of one of the most dangerous things about our world. In a game, it may be insignificant what “god” you choose; but in the real world that choice has eternal consequences.
To a generation of Israelites surrounded by the gods of their day, Joshua declared that they must choose their god—but it must not be done in a cavalier way. He set the example as he said, “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Josh. 24:15).
Today, as in the days of Joshua, there are many options. But there is only one wise choice—the true God. Joshua made the right choice. “We will serve the Lord.”
freely given
At the end of a long day, I took a quick moment to get a jumpstart on my work email—striving to preempt any surprises I might face at 8 o’clock the next morning. Frustration ebbed throughout my tired mind as I read an email that contained complaints and feelings of entitlement from a student known to be immature in his responses to life’s challenges. I wanted to send back a veiled sting of reproach, but instead I crawled into bed to think through my response. Getting to the root of my frustrations, I nixed my first inclinations and seized the opportunity to model grace.
Look at what the Lord’s Prayer has to say about the issue of sin and its remedy
Since the first bite of that forbidden fruit, sin has been a universal problem in need of an immediate solution. Don’t miss this thoughtful and honest conversation.
Open Arms
At the funeral of former US First Lady Betty Ford, her son Steven said, “She was the one with the love and the comfort, and she was the first one there to put her arms around you. Nineteen years ago when I went through my alcoholism, my mother . . .
rebuilding the altar
Each New Year promises the opportunity to start afresh—the prospect of a new beginning. The Israelites had been a rebellious and disobedient people. After 70 years of exile, they were allowed to return home to Judea. They were also given the necessary help and resources to rebuild their temple (Ezra 1). They could start afresh with God. But how do you start afresh with Him?
No Sweat!
By Megan Low, Singapore Blood, sweat and tears. All these elements are essential to the biological processes of mammals, which of course, includes humans. Now that this article has appeared on ymiblogging, I can say that I’ve put my blood, sweat and tears into the website—in its Pen to Paper section, at the very least. [...]
No Sweat!
By Megan Low, Singapore Blood, sweat and tears. All these elements are essential to the biological processes of mammals, which of course, includes humans. Now that this article has appeared on ymiblogging, I can say that I’ve put my blood, sweat and tears into the website—in its Pen to Paper section, at the very least. [...]
A Song To Remember
I was delighted when I received a free gift in the mail—a CD of Scripture set to music. After listening to it several times, some of the melodies took root in my mind. Before long, I could sing the words to a couple of verses in the book of Psalms without the help of the recording.
keep all
I love knowledge. As a child, after stumbling across a picture Bible in the library, I wanted to read the real Bible. I had the impression that it was simply a thick book with tiny words, full of information like an encyclopedia. But as I read the real Bible, I realized that knowledge is good but wisdom is much, much better.
Ready For Glory
On March 1, 1981, preacher and Bible commentator D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones lay on his deathbed. From 1939 to 1968, he had served as the pastor of London’s Westminster Chapel. Now at the end of his life, Lloyd-Jones had lost the ability to speak. Indicating that he did not want any more prayers for his recovery, he wrote on a piece of paper: “Do not hold me back from glory.”
